Signal



H. G. RUNNE SIGNAL A, May 5,1931.

' Filed Aug. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JWVZVM his ATTORNEY H. G. RUNNE .May 5, .1931.

SIGNAL 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10

INVENTOR G. [Pal-lac,

A; ATTORNEY Patented May 5, 1931 PATENT oFFice HENRY e. em, or noonnsrnn, new vonx SIGNAL.

Application filedAugust 1Q, 1927, Serial No. 212,098.-

The present invention relates to signals for vehicles and an object thereof is to provide a signal which will have a distinguishing signailing action so that the signals will not be '57 misinterpreted. A further object of the in-- vention is to provide a signal of the illumi- Hated type in" which the signal member in moving to signalling position partakes of a U distinguishing movement. Still another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated signal which in moving; to signalling position partakes of a number of successive ling action and operated by a simple and inexpensive mechanism.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain partsand combinations of parts all of which will be hereinafter de- 35 scribed: the novel featuresbeing pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: 1 Fig. 1 is a fragmentary portion of a motor vehicle equipped with the present invention 8m and showing the signal in its inner position;

Fig 2 is a similarxview showing the signal after it has been moved to its extreme outer position; i

Fig; Sis a detail view of the slide; v

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the support for one end of the guide of the slide;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the ,signal;

Fg. 6 is abottom view of the signal showing afragment of the vehicle in section;

Fig. 7' is a section on the line 'Z.7, Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an. end view of one of the supporting brackets Fig. 9 is an end view ofthe other supporting bracket; 7 v

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the electric circuit is connelted tothe lamp of the signalling element; an

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the signalling element with the lamp in position therein.

Prior to this invention it has been common to'provide an illuminated signal which may occupy an inner non-signalling position and' may be moved from this inner position to an outer signalling position. Two movements have been common in these devices, one a straight line movement toward and from the non-signalling position and the other a swing ing movement of the illuminated signalling device toward and from the non-signalling position. When the signal is mounted upon a moving vehicle it is, in many instances, hard to determine whether the signal is lying in its non-signalling position or in its signalling position and it is. also hard to determine whether there is any movement in the signal as, distinguished from the movement of the signal. with the' vehiclev According to this invention, a distinguishing or novel movement is imparted to an illuminating. signalling element, and. notwitlr standing the movement of the vehicle, the movement of the signalling element can be clearly distinguished. t

In carrying out this invention. the signalling element embodies an electric incandescent lamp bulb 1 mounted in a casing 2 which has at least two walls provided with lenses 3 and 4; of different colored transparent glass or similar light transmitting material. This signallingelement is so supported that, in moving from the non-signalling position. to. the signalling position, it may move also to present successively the difl'erently colored illuminated portions. In this instance. the signalling element. rotates about an axis to alternately present the two differently colored portions to View as the signal moves from non-signalling to signalling position and vice versa.

This result is secured, in this construction, by mounting the signalling element on the end of abar or rod 5 which is guided for straight line movement and also for a rotary movement in line with said straight line guide. In this instance, the inner end of the rod 5 is connected to a guide block 6 so as to turn in said block, nuts 7 being arranged on the rod 5 on opposite sides of the block 6 so as to hold the rod 5 to the block. The rod 5 is also guided in a fixed block 8 which is, in this instance, employed for effecting the rotation of the rod and to this end has a spiral or curved groove 9 in which a spiral rib 10 surrounding the rod 5 operates. As the block 6 is moved back and forth, the rod 5 moves in the guide or nut 8 and the spiral rib 10 moves in the groove 9 so that there is imparted to the rod 5 a rotary as well as an axial movement. When the rod 5 is in its inner position, the illuminating surfaces 3 and 4 are presented upwardly and downwardly respectively, but, when the rod is moved outwardly, the illuminated surfaces 3 and 4.- make a number of complete revolutions and are alternately presented to view until the signalling element reaches its extreme outer position when one of the surfaces is presented to the rear of the vehicle while the other is presented forwardly. It is preferred that in this position the amber signal 3 be presented rearwardly and the green signal 4: be presented forwardly.

The block or slide 6 may be supported in any manner but, in this instance, it operates on a guide bar 11 which at one end is secured to an attaching bracket 12 and the other end is secured to an attaching bracket 13, the bracket 12 preferably supporting the guide block 8 and both brackets having bolts 14 which extend therefrom and are provided with thumb nuts 15 at their outer ends. These bolts are adapted to be passed through a wall 16 of a vehicle. As illustrated, this wall is the front wall of the vehicle body directly above the windshield so that the signalling elements lies slightly to one side of the vehicle body beneath the usual visor. The bracket 13 carries a projecting enc. niece 17 and this end piece with the guide block 8 forms asupport and outer faces of the wall. 16. A handle 26v may be secured to the rock shaft 23 within.

the vehicle and may serve for imparting to the rock shaft an oscillatory movement. In oscillating, this shaft swings the arm 22 and imparts to the link a movement which will shift the slide 6 on the guide.

Vith the end in view of conducting an electric currentto the incandescent bulb 1 the latter is mounted in a socket 27, the outer terminal of which is in electrical contact with the rod 5 and through the latter is grounded.

The other terminal connects with a conductor 28 which is arranged within the rod 5, the latter for this purpose being made tubular. This conductor is insulated from said rod 5 by an insulating sleeve 29 surrounding the tubular conductor 28 and projecting at 30 beyond the inner end of the tubular rod 5. A conductor 31 is secured to a binding post 32 which is mounted on the end piece 17, the latter being made of insulating material. This insulating block 17 also supports a conductor rod 33 secured at 3% to the block and extending therefrom through the projecting end 30 of the insulation material and into the conductor tube 28 to telescope therewith and to contact with the walls of the latter in order to conduct electricity from the rod 33 to the inner terminal of the lamp socket. A make and break device is employed between the conductor 31 and the rod 33 and this make and break de+ vice operates in such a manner that, when the signalling element is in its inner or non-signalling position, no current will be conducted to the rod 33, but, when the signalling device .is moved away from its non-signalling posit tion, current will pass to the rod 33 and effect the illumination of the signalling element. In this instance, this make and break device consists of a spring finger 35 connected with the conductor 31 and arranged to cooperate with the rod as shown in Fig. 6 or to be moved out of such cooperation by the tapered insulating projection 30 when the signalling element is lying in its inner non-signalling position.

The operation of the invention may be un derstood from the foregoing but it may be summarized as follows: Assuming that the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 1 and that it is desired to signal a vehicle in the rear of the intention either to turn or to stop, the handle 26 is swung and this moves the slide 6 and projects the rod 5 outwardly from the vehicle. In moving outwardly, the rod revolves, causing casing 2 to make several complete revolutions alternately presenting the lenses 3 and 4 to the rear, as well as to the front. The bulb becomes illuminated upon the first part of this movement of the rod and eventually the signalling element reaches the position in Fig. 2 with the amber lens 3 dis posed rearwardly and the green lens 4 disposed forwardly. This position may be maintained either until the handle 26 is turned in the opposite direction to move the signalling handle is oscillated so as to continue to impart movement to the signalling element, and

thus signalling those in the rear. The signal given by thls signalling mechanism is of such distinguishing character that it cannot be misinterpreted. The movement of the vehicle can have no effect on the signal and thus a positive and effective signal is given.

While the signal has been described and shown and designed for use as a direction signal for vehicles, it is apparent that it is not limited to such use. I

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A signal comprising a signalling element having a plurality of separate illuminated portions, a rod by which said signalling element is supported to move axially with the rod, and means for moving said rod axi ally and also rotating said rod while the signals are illuminated and during such axial movement a number of complete rotations to successively present said illuminated portions to view.

2. A signal comprising a signalling element having a plurality of separate illuminated portions, a rod supporting said signalling element and having a screw formed thereon with a number of complete turns, a nut through which the screw operates, and means for moving the rod axially to cause the screw to turn in the nut and rotate and move the signalling element axially with the axial movement of the rod and while illuminated to successively present the illuminated portions to view.

3. A signal comprising a signalling element, a rod supporting said signalling element and having a screw formed thereon with a number of complete turns, a nut through which the screw operates, and means for moving the rod axially to cause the screw to turn in the nut and rotate and move the signalling element axially with the axial movement of the rod, said means including a slide in which the rod is mounted to turn, and a guide for the slide extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the rod, and means for moving said slide on its guide.

4:. A signal comprising a signalling element, a rod supporting said signalling element and having a screw formed thereon with a number of complete turns, a nut through which the screw operates, and means for mov ing the rod axially to cause the screw to turn in the nut and rotate and move the signalling element axially with the axial movement of the rod, said means including a slide in which the rod is mounted to turn, and a guide for the slide extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the rod, and means for moving said slide on its guide, said slide moving means including a rock shaft, an arm on the rock shaft, and a link connecting said arm with the slide.

5. The combination with a rotary signal movable axially from an inner position to an outer position, and means causing a number of complete rotations of the signal as it moves from the inner position to the outermost position so that the signal attracts attention from the time it starts to move at its inner position until it reaches its outer position.

HENRY G. RUNNE. 

